Zhejiang, 4 buildings collapse: 22 dead. Little girl saved

Authorities believe the collapse was provoked by persistent rain. The buildings were built in the 1970s. They were rented to migrant poor. The rooms divided by wooden panels to increase the number of guests. Three year old girl, saved under the lifeless body of her father.


 


Wenzhou (AsiaNews) – Four buildings have collapsed leaving 22 dead and 28 wounded. A little girl was saved by miracle, pulled from rubble alive this morning: She had been protected from the collapse by her father, who died covering her with his body, hit by a concrete pillar.

The incident occurred yesterday just before dawn in Lucheng, Wenzhou in the industrial area. Rescue operations continue, since there are still many people missing.

Xinhua said that the buildings were built in the 1970s and were rented to poor migrants, who came from the countryside to work in cities. Many apartments rooms were further divided with wooden panels to increase capacity. Authorities believe that the persistent rainfall of recent weeks weakened the structures which are as high as five stories, and which finally collapsed.

The little three year old was taken to the hospital and has only minor injuries.